U.S. patent application number 14/694448 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-26 for auxiliary heating assembly for use with residential air handlers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carrier Corporation. Invention is credited to James Amick, Kevin Mercer.
Application Number | 20150338109 14/694448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54555777 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150338109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amick; James ; et
al. |
November 26, 2015 |
AUXILIARY HEATING ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH RESIDENTIAL AIR
HANDLERS
Abstract
An auxiliary heating assembly for use with a residential air
handler including a fan assembly, the auxiliary heating assembly
includes a heating apparatus arranged in a geometric shape, wherein
the heating apparatus includes an opening, the opening
substantially position in a center of the geometric shape.
Inventors: |
Amick; James; (Coatesville,
IN) ; Mercer; Kevin; (Danville, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carrier Corporation |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54555777 |
Appl. No.: |
14/694448 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62000699 |
May 20, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/350 ;
126/116C; 392/360; 392/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 2200/08 20130101;
F24D 5/04 20130101; F24D 5/12 20130101; F24D 12/02 20130101; F24H
3/12 20130101; F24H 3/0411 20130101; F24D 2200/12 20130101; Y02B
30/13 20180501 |
International
Class: |
F24D 12/02 20060101
F24D012/02; F24H 3/12 20060101 F24H003/12; F24D 13/02 20060101
F24D013/02; F24H 3/04 20060101 F24H003/04 |
Claims
1. An auxiliary heating assembly for use with a residential air
handler including a fan assembly, the auxiliary heating assembly
comprising: a heating apparatus arranged in a geometric shape;
wherein the heating apparatus includes an opening, the opening
substantially position in a center of the geometric shape.
2. The auxiliary heating assembly of claim 1, wherein the geometric
shape is selected from a group consisting of: circular, toroid,
triangular, square, pentagonal, pyramid, and hexagonal.
3. The auxiliary heating assembly of claim 2, wherein an opening
length of the opening comprises between approximately 10% and
approximately 50% of an apparatus length of the heating
apparatus.
4. The auxiliary heating assembly of claim 1, wherein the heating
apparatus comprises at least one electrical coil.
5. The auxiliary heating assembly of claim 1, wherein the heating
apparatus comprises at least one conduit.
6. The auxiliary heating assembly of claim 1, wherein the heating
apparatus is disposed within an enclosure.
7. A residential air handler comprising: an enclosure including an
interior surface and an exterior surface; a fan assembly disposed
within the enclosure, the fan assembly configured to produce an air
flow stream; and an auxiliary heating assembly positioned adjacent
to the fan assembly and disposed within the enclosure; wherein the
auxiliary heating assembly comprises: a heating apparatus arranged
in a geometric shape; wherein the heating apparatus is
substantially aligned with an air flow stream produced by the fan
assembly.
8. The residential air handler of claim 7, wherein the geometric
shape is selected from a group consisting of: circular, toroid,
triangular, square, pentagonal, pyramid and hexagonal.
9. The residential air handler of claim 8, wherein an opening
length of the opening comprises between approximately 10% and
approximately 50% of an apparatus length of the heating
apparatus.
10. The residential air handler of claim 7, wherein the heating
apparatus comprises at least one electrical coil.
11. The residential air handler of claim 7, wherein the heating
apparatus comprises at least one conduit.
12. The residential air handler of claim 7, wherein the fan
assembly comprises an axial fan.
13. An HVAC system comprising: an air handler comprising an air
handler enclosure, and a fan assembly disposed within the
enclosure; and an auxiliary heating assembly comprising a heating
apparatus arranged in a geometric shape, wherein the heating
apparatus includes an opening, the opening substantially position
in a center of the geometric shape.
14. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary heating
assembly is disposed within the air handler.
15. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary heating
assembly further comprises an auxiliary heating assembly
enclosure.
16. The HVAC system of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary heating
assembly enclosure is positioned adjacent to the air handler
enclosure.
17. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the fan assembly comprises
an axial fan.
18. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the geometric shape is
selected from a group consisting of: circular, toroid, triangular,
square, pentagonal, and hexagonal.
19. The HVAC system of claim of claim 18, wherein an opening length
of the opening comprises between approximately 10% and
approximately 50% of an apparatus length of the heating
apparatus.
20. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the heating apparatus
comprises at least one electrical coil.
21. The HVAC system of claim 13, wherein the heating apparatus
comprises at least one conduit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to, and claims the
priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
62/000,699 filed May 20, 2014, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated in their entirety into the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0002] The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to
heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more
particularly, to an auxiliary heating assembly for use with
residential air handlers.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0003] Residential air handlers may include auxiliary heating
packages to provide supplemental heat when the residential air
handler alone cannot satisfy the heating demand. In some instances
the auxiliary heating packages are integrated within the
residential air handler, and in other instances, the auxiliary
heating package is enclosed in a separate compartment, typically on
top of the residential air handler. Generally, the auxiliary
heating package contains electrical heating coils arranged in
linear rows. When used with a residential air handler having an
axial fan, this linear arrangement could adversely affect the
operation of the residential air handler as minimal air would pass
through the center section of rows; thus causing temperature limits
to be activated. There is therefore a need for an auxiliary heating
package that will not adversely affect the operation of a
residential air handler having an axial fan.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0004] In at least one embodiment, an auxiliary heating assembly is
provided. The auxiliary heating assembly includes a heating
apparatus arranged in a geometric shape to include an opening,
wherein the opening is substantially positioned in a center of the
geometrical shape. In one embodiment, the geometric shape is
selected from a group consisting of: circular, toroid, triangular,
square, pentagonal, pyramid, and hexagonal. In one embodiment, an
opening length of the opening comprises between approximately 10%
and approximately 50% of an apparatus length of the heating
apparatus. In one embodiment, the heating apparatus includes at
least one electrical coil. In another embodiment, the heating
apparatus includes at least one conduit configured to circulate a
medium therethrough.
[0005] In at least one embodiment, a residential air handler is
provided. In one embodiment, air handler includes an air handler
enclosure including an interior surface and an exterior surface. In
one embodiment, the interior surface of the air handler enclosure
includes a plurality of apertures disposed thereon. In one
embodiment, a rail assembly is coupled to the interior surface of
the air handler enclosure. In one embodiment, a portion of the rail
assembly is removable from the air handler enclosure. The air
handler further includes a coil assembly disposed within the air
handler enclosure. The air handler further includes a fan assembly
disposed within the enclosure and located in a position adjacent to
the coil assembly. In one embodiment, the fan assembly is coupled
to the rail assembly. In one embodiment, the fan assembly 28
includes an axial fan. In one embodiment, the axial fan further
includes a stator assembly, including a plurality of vanes and a
hub, coupled thereto. In one embodiment, the auxiliary heating
assembly is disposed within the air handler enclosure and
positioned adjacent to the fan assembly. In another embodiment, the
auxiliary heating assembly is disposed within an auxiliary heating
assembly enclosure, and positioned adjacent to the air handler
enclosure.
[0006] In at least one embodiment, an HVAC system is provided. The
HVAC system includes an air handler in fluid communication with an
outdoor unit assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The embodiments and other features, advantages and
disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them,
will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better
understood by reference to the following description of various
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system.
[0009] FIGS. 2A-D are schematic diagrams of auxiliary heating
assemblies;
[0010] FIGS. 3A-B are schematic diagrams of residential air
handlers; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an auxiliary heating
assembly coupled to a fan assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to
the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language
will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is
thereby intended.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an HVAC system 10 including an air
handler 12 in fluid communication with an outdoor unit assembly 14,
for example, an air conditioner or a heat pump. The air handler 12
and outdoor unit assembly 14 are operable to provide conditioned
air to a space 16 via a plurality of conduits 18.
[0014] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrates embodiments of the auxiliary heating
assembly 32. The auxiliary heating assembly 32 includes a heating
apparatus 36 arranged in a geometric shape to include an opening
38, wherein the opening 38 is substantially positioned in a center
of the geometrical shape. As shown in FIG. 2A-2D, the geometric
shape may be chosen from a group consisting of circular,
triangular, square, and pentagonal. In one embodiment, an opening
length 37 of the opening 38 comprises between approximately 10% and
approximately 50% of an apparatus length 39 of the heating
apparatus 36. It will also be appreciated that other geometrical
shapes, such as hexagonal, pyramidal, and toroid to name a few
non-limiting examples, may be used to arrange the heating apparatus
36. In one embodiment, the heating apparatus 36 includes at least
one electrical coil. In another embodiment, the heating apparatus
36 includes at least one conduit configured to circulate a medium
therethrough. For example, the heating apparatus 36 may be
configured to circulate hot water therethrough to provide auxiliary
heating.
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments of an air handler 12.
In one embodiment, air handler 12 includes an air handler enclosure
20 including an interior surface 22 and an exterior surface 24. In
one embodiment, the interior surface 22 of the air handler
enclosure 20 includes a plurality of apertures (not shown) disposed
thereon. In one embodiment, a rail assembly (not shown) is coupled
to the interior surface 22 of the air handler enclosure 20. In one
embodiment, a portion of the rail assembly is removable from the
air handler enclosure 20. The air handler 12 further includes a
coil assembly 26 disposed within the air handler enclosure 20. The
coil assembly 26 is configured to circulate a medium, for example a
refrigerant, therethrough. The air handler 12 further includes a
fan assembly 28 disposed within the enclosure 20 and located in a
position adjacent to the coil assembly 26. The fan assembly 28 is
configured to produce an air flow stream 30 through the enclosure
12. In one embodiment, the fan assembly 28 is coupled to the rail
assembly (not shown). In one embodiment, the fan assembly 28
includes an axial fan. In one embodiment, the axial fan further
includes a stator assembly (not shown), including a plurality of
vanes and a hub, coupled thereto. In one embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 2A, an auxiliary heating assembly 32 is disposed within the
air handler enclosure 20 and positioned adjacent to the fan
assembly 28. It will be appreciated that the auxiliary heating
assembly 32 may be positioned adjacent to the fan assembly 28 by
mounting the auxiliary heating assembly 32 to the interior surface
22 of the air handler enclosure 20, mounting the auxiliary heating
assembly 32 to the rail assembly, or mounting the auxiliary heating
assembly 32 to the stator assembly to name a few non limiting
examples. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, an auxiliary
heating assembly 32 is disposed within an auxiliary heating
assembly enclosure 34, and positioned adjacent to the air handler
enclosure 20. In the example shown in FIG. 4, to enable efficient
heating from the auxiliary heating assembly 32, it will also be
appreciated that the heating apparatus 36 is positioned
substantially parallel to the air flow stream 30 from the fan
assembly 28.
[0016] It will therefore be appreciated that the auxiliary heating
assembly 32 includes a heating apparatus 36 arranged in a geometric
shape to enable efficient heating by positioning the heating
apparatus 36 substantially parallel to the air flow stream 30 from
the fan assembly 28.
[0017] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and
described and that all changes and modifications that come within
the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
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